Utah gasoline prices dip, but 2012 average is record high

Average retail gasoline prices in Utah have fallen 14.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.11/g Sunday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 1,171 gas outlets in Utah. This compares with the national average that has not moved in the last week to $3.24/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Utah during the past week, prices Sunday were 12.0 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 45.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 19.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 1.3 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

"It appears that the national average may set a new all-time record high, barely edging out 2011 as the most expensive average for gasoline on Christmas Day," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "The bad news likely won't stop there- gasoline prices in six out of the last seven years have increased between Christmas Day and January 15 of the following year. If the national average rises to at least $3.26/gal before New Years Day it will mark the highest start for gas prices ever on the first day of the year," DeHaan said.

GasBuddy operates UtahGasPrices.com and over 250 similar websites that track gasoline prices at over 140,000 gasoline stations in the United States and Canada. In addition, GasBuddy offers a free smartphone app which has been downloaded over 25 million times to help motorists find the lowest gasoline prices in their area.